Dairy Industry Study Dismisses Heart Disease Link

Global dairy groups funded research that found no link between consuming dairy products and cardiovascular disease in a last-ditch effort to pull the animal product from the gutter.

A new cohort study published in the European Journal of Epidemiology found that dairy consumption was not associated with increased risk in cardiovascular disease. The study was funded by an unlimited grant from dairy lobby groups Global Dairy Platform, Dairy Research Institute, and Dairy Australia. Study researcher Sabita S. Soedamah-Muthu also works with various food corporations that heavily rely on animal products including Nestlé and McDonald’s. These findings are in line with various actions the dairy industry has taken to stay afloat as the plant-based industry continues to grow. Last month, a similar study—funded by the National Dairy Council—found that dairy is the best source of protein for children six months and older. On the legislative side, congressmen from dairy-producing states proposed the Dairy Pride Act late last year in an effort to block competition from plant-based companies by disallowing them to use the term “milk” to describe their products. Numerous respected publications—including Forbes—have pointed out the demise of the dairy industry and growing consumer preference for animal-free alternatives.